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The London Antique Rug and Textile Art Fair 2013

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THIS year, The London Antique Rug and Textile Art Fair runs at The Showroom, Penfold Street, London, NW8, from April 18 to April 21, 2013.

This important annual event is now in its third year, showcasing fabulous and exciting woven objects from around the globe. An enticing souk-like setting brings to life colourful works from antique Persian rugs to ancient Brussels tapestries and early 20th century tribal textiles.

Many design motifs from traditional weavings still exert a strong influence on the textile designers of today.

From colourful, embroidered floral suzani (a decorator’s favourite, as bed covers and wall-hangings) to affordable and practical tribal rugs and weavings (Middle Eastern, African) rich with cultural history, and at prices from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds (more than competitive with new, mass-produced pieces), this is the UK’s only specialist event that brings together 10 of the UK and Europe’s leading dealers in rugs, carpets and textiles.

And with many people wanting a return to warmth, comfort and colour in their home, a rug or traditional textile is a wonderful way to achieve this.

Book signing (Saturday, April 20 from 4pm to 7pm): by Robert Chenciner, a respected author who has written several works about the textiles and cultures of the Caucasus.

Well-travelled and entertaining, Chenciner is a colourful character whose latest book, Dragons, Padlocks and Tamerlane’s Balls, is a pot-pourri of auto-biography, art and cultural history on three of his favourite subjects: drawn from Turkey – Şarkişla Rugs and Tamerlane’s Balls; the Caucasus, including Turkey, Iran, and Russia – Dragons, Eagles, Pastiche rugs and Bulat blades; and Swedish padlock key-hole covers, a gentle satire on art history.

Timed to coincide with London’s spring Islamic Art auctions season, which include the major rug and carpet sales, LARTA attracts a multitude of international buyers keen to see stock conveniently offered together. The event has also become a destination for interior designers and private buyers looking for a great textile, or the perfect floorcovering to enhance their design schemes. Collectors will also find important items.

Visitors will discover items originating from Anatolia, the Caucasus, Persia, Central Asia, India and China, as well as from Europe and Africa, and from all periods up to the early 20th century.